Viol



A. F. GROEBL VIOL. APPLICATLON FILED AUG-3, I920- Patented May 3, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHET 2.

. INVENTOR #00469 [62 x45 WITNESSES I ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES ADOLPH F. GROEBL, OF OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK.

vron.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1921 Application filed August 3, 1920. Serial No. 401,001.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADoLrH F. GRonBL,

' a citizen of the United States, and a resitlent of Oyster Bay, in the county ofNassau and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Viol, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

I structure is produced, capable of resisting rough use. v

Another object of the invention is to provide improved construction especially adapted for teaching, the structure being such that the instrument will not readily get out of tune.

A further object of the invention is to provide what may be termed a combined violin and banjo, the parts being so arranged that the violin shape and general characteristics are retained, while the banjo head is provided and held in place regardless of weather conditions.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a banjoviol disclosing an embodiment of the inven tion.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through Fig. 1, approximately on line 2-2.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through Fig. 2 on line 3-3, the same being on a large scale.

Fig. a is a fragmentary sectional view showing a tension member used in tightening the head of the viol.

Fig. 5 is a large view through one of the tensioning devices shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view through Fig. 5 on line 6-6.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates a neck which is provided with a body 2 and with a number of tension devices 22. The neck 1 may be made of any suitable material, as for instance wood, provided with a fingerboard 3 extending over the body 2 and with a stiffened supporting bar 4, which is preferably of wood for the sake of lightness. The body 2 is preferably formed of some light metal, as for instance aluminum, and provided with an opening at each end so that the bar 4 may extend therethrough, said bar being shoulder plate 14, while the center fragmentary sectional rigidly secured at one end to the neck 2. This forms the principal connection between the body and the neck, although the. strings 5 and the wire bracing member 6 on the bottom assist in connectingthe body or holding the body in proper position. The frame 2 is shaped to conform to the usual shape of a violin frame and provided with a head 7 formed of skin or other material of the same general character as a banjo head, said head being held in place by a clamping band 8, which in turn is moved into proper clamping position by a number of members 9 having threaded ends 10 connecting the nuts 11. An abutment or stop 12 is provided, against which the nut 11 presses, as

clearly shown in Fig. 1. In order to cause the head to bulge upwardly a centrally arranged longitudinal brace 13 is provided, said brace being preferably of wood and held in place by the rear end fitting over a is sup? 7 ported by an auxiliary bridge 15. This bridge is provided with a supporting edge 16 (Fig. 3), said supporting edge resting on the bracing plate 17, which plate is held in place by a transverse clamping bolt 18 and by the supporting wire 6 which passes therethrough. In addition, the plate 17 may be provided with supporting pins or screws 19, which extend through the body 2 into the ends of the plate. Preferably, the brace 18 is free at the front end or the end adjacent the neck 1 so that a proper action may be secured. An ordinary bridge 20 is mounted on the head 2, in line with the auxiliary bridge 15 and the bracing plate 17, said bridge accommodating the usual strings 21. It is evident that any form of strings may be used but when the instrument is used 'in teaching or is used by soldiers or other persons in outdoor life, wire strings are preferable, as they will not be injured by the elements to as the ordinary strings. The strings, of whatever nature, extend over the fingerboard 3 in the usual manner and are wound upon the tension members 22, and these whirls may be of any desired construction, but a desirable form is shown in Fig. 5, wherein it will be seen that a post 23 is provided, said post'having an opening 24 and a square shank 25 which is formed with a threaded socket 26 at the lower end. A finger member 27 fits over the lower end of the post such an extent 2'7. Suitable washers 29 and 30 are provided so that when the screw 28 is tightened, there will be provided a friction between the respective parts so as to prevent accidental rotary movement of post 23.

In operation, when it is desired to use the viol, the head 7 is properly tightened by operating the nuts 11, if the head is: not already at the proper tension. The strings 21 are then properly tuned in the usual manner by rotating the whirls 22. When this preliminary work has been done the banjo-viol is then in condition to be played by an ordinary bow and in the ordinary way. By reason of the use of the skin forming the head 7 and body having a metal frame and associated parts described, the viol is especially desirably for use by soldiers or others operating outdoors. It is also very desirable as an instrument for teaching music, as the strings will not quickly get out of tune, and consequently, the pupil in practising will have his ear properly trained, even in the absence of a tutor.

What I claim is: I

1. In a viol of the character described, a neck and abody connected therewith, a parchment head for said body, a bracing plate extending from one side to the other of said head, strings mounted to extend over said head, a bridge for supporting said strings, said bridge resting on said parchment head, and an auxiliary bridge engaging said plate,

the auxiliary bridge being arranged opposite the first mentioned bridge.

2. In a viol of the character described, a body, a head formed of parchment for said body, means for stretching and clamping said head in place so as to maintain the same taut, and a longitudinally and centrally ar ranged bracing plate fitted against the under surface of said head for preventing any depression thereof.

3. In a viol of the character described, a body constructed of metal, a transverse bracing plate arranged centrally otthe body, a tension bolt extending transversely of the body adjacent said plate, a longitudinal tensional wire extending longitudinally of the body and passing through said plate, a parchment head for said body, a longitudinally arranged bracing plate engaging said head on the inner surface, and an auxiliary bridge engaging said transverse plate and said longitudinally arranged plate.

4. In a viol of the character described, a body, said body being formed of metal, a transverse plate bracing the central parts of the body, a longitudinally arranged wood plate arranged centrally of said body, an auxiliary bridge engaging said wood plate and said transverse bracing plate, and a head of parchment connecting the said body and pressing against said longitudinal wood plate.

ADOLPH F. GROEBL. 

